La Croix - France | Thursday, April 26, 2007
François Bayrou is telling nobody how to vote
On Wednesday, April 25th, the centrist candidate François Bayrou, who came third in the first round of the presidential elections, did not give voters any instructions on how to vote in the second round that will oppose Ségolène Royal and Nicolas Sarkozy. "The heterogeneous typology of his voters, often estranged from the traditional parties, would have meant that authoritarian instructions would have been in vain anyway", considers Dominique Quinio. "Thus it came as no surprise that he brandished neutrality yesterday, neutrality that is in fact hardly neutral, despite the equally divided criticism of the two challengers: his extremely severe speech regarding Sarkozy showed which candidate he's not going to vote for anyway. It is not clear whether all of his voters will follow him down that path. But claiming freedom for himself, he is offering it to the 7 million women and men who thought a third way might be possible. He is promising them a new political force."
» to the homepage (external link, La Croix)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » France
All available articles from » Dominique Quinio
» To the complete press review of Thursday, April 26, 2007